Nanofiber scaffolds for biological structures

Abstract

A system for manufacturing an artificial construct suitable for transplantation into a biological organism that includes a two or three three-dimensional preform that is based on the actual two or three-dimensional structure of a native mammalian tissue; and an electrospinning apparatus, wherein the electrospinning apparatus is operative to deposit at least one layer of polymer fibers on the preform to form a polymer scaffold, and wherein the orientation of the fibers in the scaffold relative to one another is substantially parallel.

What is claimed: 
     
       1. An implantable device comprising:
 a scaffold having at least one layer of electrospun polymer fibers, wherein at least about 75% of the fibers have a fiber angle within about 10° of parallel. 
 
     
     
       2. The implantable device of  claim 1 , wherein the scaffold is configured to speed the healing of a tissue selected from the group consisting of a muscle, a tendon, a ligament, an osseous tissue, a chondral tissue, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       3. The implantable device of  claim 1 , wherein the scaffold is configured to mimic a property of a tissue selected from the group consisting of a muscle, a tendon, a ligament, an osseous tissue, a chondral tissue, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       4. The implantable device of  claim 3 , wherein the property is a structural property. 
     
     
       5. The implantable device of  claim 1 , wherein the scaffold has a porosity from about 70% to about 90%. 
     
     
       6. The implantable device of  claim 1 , wherein the scaffold has a thickness from about 0.2 mm to about 3 mm. 
     
     
       7. The implantable device of  claim 1 , wherein the scaffold further comprises a type of biological cell selected from the group consisting of cord blood cells, embryonic stem cells, induced pluripotent cells, mesenchymal cells, placental cells, bone marrow derived cells, hematopoietic cell, epithelial cells, endothelial cells, fibroblasts, chondrocytes, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       8. The implantable device of  claim 1 , wherein the scaffold further comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of proteins, peptides, cytokines, growth factors, antibiotic compounds, anti-inflammatory compounds, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       9. The implantable device of  claim 1 , wherein the electrospun polymer fibers comprise a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate, silicone, polyurethane, polycarbonate, polyether ketone, polycaprolactone, polylactic acid, polyglycolic acid, collagen, gelatin, fibronectin, hyaluronic acid, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       10. The implantable device of  claim 1 , wherein about 92% of the fibers have a fiber angle within about 10° of parallel. 
     
     
       11. The implantable device of  claim 1 , wherein about 98% of the fibers have a fiber angle within about 10° of parallel. 
     
     
       12. A method comprising:
 implanting into a tissue a scaffold having at least one layer of electrospun polymer fibers, wherein at least about 75% of the fibers have a fiber angle within about 10° of parallel. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the tissue is selected from the group consisting of a muscle, a tendon, a ligament, an osseous tissue, a chondral tissue, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the scaffold is configured to speed the healing of the tissue. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the scaffold is configured to mimic a property of the tissue. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the property is a structural property. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the scaffold has a thickness from about 0.2 mm to about 3 mm. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the scaffold has a porosity from about 70% to about 90%. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 12 , wherein about 92% of the fibers have a fiber angle within about 10° of parallel. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 12 , wherein about 98% of the fibers have a fiber angle within about 10° of parallel.